§ 1.04.020. Definitions.

A.

In the interpretation and construction of this code, all words, other than those specifically defined in this section or specifically defined elsewhere in the Charter of the City or in this code, have the meanings or definitions ordinarily ascribed to them as set forth in Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1981 Edition), unless any such meaning or definition is inconsistent with the acts of the legislature, the decisions of the courts of the State, law or with the manifest intent of the City Council, or the context clearly requires otherwise.

B.

For the purpose of this code, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:

1.

"Alderman" or "Alderwoman" means a member of the Annapolis City Council. Each member of the City Council may be referred to in a gender-specific fashion.

2.

"Annual" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.

3.

"City" or "this City" means the City of Annapolis, in the County of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, except as otherwise provided.

4.

"City Council" or "the council" means the body consisting of the Mayor, aldermen and alderwomen.

5.

"County" or "the County" means Anne Arundel County, in the State of Maryland.

6.

"Department director" or "the director" means the chief executive officer of each department of the City.

7.

"May not" has a mandatory negative effect and establishes a prohibition.

8.

"Mayor, aldermen and alderwomen" means the Mayor, aldermen and alderwomen of the City, otherwise known as the City Council.

9.

"Month" means a calendar month.

10.

"Oath" includes an affirmation, and "sworn" includes "affirmed."

11.

"Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.

12.

"Owner," applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant by the entirety, tenant in partnership or joint tenant of the whole or a part of such building or land.

13.

"Person" means any individual, partnership, club, corporation, organization, joint stock association or other entity, or any City or State or any subdivision thereof, and includes any agent, trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

14.

"Personal property" includes every species of property, except "real property" as defined by this section.

15.

"Preceding" and "following" means next before and next after, respectively.

16.

"Property" includes real and personal property.

17.

"Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments and embraces all chattels real.

18.

"Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

19.

"Signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person cannot write, the person's name being written near it and witnessed by a person who writes his or her own name as witness.

20.

State: The words "the State" or "this State" mean the State of Maryland.

21.

"Street" means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatsoever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for purposes of vehicular traffic.

22.

"Written" and "in writing" include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters, but when the written signature of any person is required by law to any official or public writing or bond required by law, it shall be the proper handwriting of such person, or in case the person is unable to write, by that person's proper mark.

23.

"Year" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.

(Ord. O-25-02 § 1 (part); revised during 1986 codification; prior code § 1-2(a), (b)(1), (2), (4), (7), (8), (10)—(21), (23), (24))

(Ord. No. O-43-09, § I, 10-12-2009)